Rolando Orellana, an urban water management agent with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension at the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture on the UGA Griffin Campus, discussed on Apr. 17 how he is working to promote efficient and sustainable water use across the state.
Orellana said that managing water wisely is important because it supports both local economies and daily life. “We’re going into an era where water is going to be a precious resource that we need to manage,” he said. “It’s very important for our economy, and it’s important for our life.”
Having grown up on a coffee farm in Honduras, Orellana developed an early appreciation for agriculture before joining UGA in 2010 as a landscape safety trainer. He later worked in extension roles in Fulton and Cobb counties before returning to his current position at the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture.
His work focuses on educating landscapers, industry professionals, and small farmers about emerging irrigation technologies such as automation systems and weather-based controllers. While these technologies have existed for some time, Orellana said adoption remains slow due to educational barriers: “I think the biggest roadblock is education,” he said. “Right now, there’s either not enough information or there is too much information.”
Orellana conducts trainings on irrigation and water management topics designed to help green industry workers implement more efficient solutions. He has also contributed by helping translate training materials through the Spanish Professional Extension Committee.
The Griffin Campus features two demonstration sites dedicated to irrigation and stormwater management research as well as public education programs involving industry partners who provide expertise, funding, parts, and labor.
“Being an educator is difficult and is also very rewarding,” Orellana said. “What matters most to me is helping others succeed. When landscapers and growers can apply what we share to improve their work, that’s when I feel we’ve truly made a difference.” Looking ahead, Orellana expressed gratitude for being part of an organization focused on innovation: “Every project teaches me something new, and I look forward to continuing to learn and help more people in our communities,” he said.
